Voter Surge: Harnessing The Energy Of The 2018 Midterms

Now that the 2018 midterm elections are history, many will likely engage in "Monday morning quarterbacking” regarding the outcomes and implications. Midterm elections tend to be minor events characterized by low voter turnout and the possible pivot politically from the administration in power. This year has been remarkably different. Heightened awareness of a highly unusual presidency and a sense of urgency on both sides of the ideological spectrum have spiked greater than usual voter participation. Yet, does this midterm truly signal a sustained renaissance in voter interest?

Voters waiting in rain at the polling placeiStock

Statistics have shown that the percentage of eligible voters casting a vote in midterm elections is nearly 20% lower than those voting in presidential contests. Research by the United States Election Project reveals that voter turnout in the last three presidential election years was 60.1% (2016), 58.6% (2012), and 62.2% (2008). By contrast, the percentage of eligible voters in the last three midterms stands at 36.7% (2014), 41.8% (2010), and 41.3% (2006) respectively.

Despite being one of the most highly recognized democracies in the world, the United States has a populace that is seemingly indifferent to voting. Since 1976, eligible voter participation in the United States has hovered between 50-60%. According to the Pew Research Center, the United States trails most developed nations in voter turnout, ranking 26th when compared to 32 peer nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). I see this as a systemic problem that threatens the vibrancy of our democracy.

The current political ethos of our country has produced a democratic conundrum. On one hand, we have witnessed huge polarization in our society that has stymied productive exchange. Yet, on the other hand, the rigidity of political beliefs and the commensurate need for political power to enforce those beliefs have produced increased interest in voter participation in the 2018 midterms. Somehow, educators and political leaders must capitalize on this moment to devise strategies that encourage Americans to vote regularly as a moral imperative.

My thoughts about voter participation harkened back to my childhood. In the 1960s, many Americans faced significant obstacles to voting including poll taxes and violent intimidation. These disenfranchised citizens sacrificed mightily for a right that has been fundamental in the American democracy. A resulting cornerstone of the civil rights movement during that era included the removal of voting obstacles. Viewed through this historical lens, the right to vote morphed from a privilege to a sacred trust with moral implications.

While some may dispute the significance of voter participation, most should agree that voting remains a fundamental element of democracy. Casting a ballot constitutes expressive conduct that influences such seminal issues as the economy, health care, immigration, “safety net” programs, judicial nominations, or checks on elected officials. Americans confirmed this point when media queried them about their reasons for voting in the 2018 midterms.

Voter disinterest as a normative construct has its genesis in a systemic misunderstanding of democracy and the function of government. Former United States Supreme Court Justice Souter stated as much when, after his retirement in 2009, he commented on the danger of America’s “pervasive civic ignorance.”

Justice Souter’s narrative has haunting significance. I believe that any cure for voter apathy requires a multifaceted strategy that includes an emphasis on civics and government in secondary and higher education, the removal of bureaucratic obstacles to voting, and a sustained initiative that promotes voting as a moral imperative. In essence, education, in all forms, stands as a foundational tactic that prompts attitudinal change with regard to voting behavior.

Educators and policymakers will hopefully harness the energy of the 2018 midterms to encourage more Americans to vote regularly. Proposals to accomplish this goal, such as making election day a holiday, emphasizing voting in government and political science courses and mandatory registration will likely surface. All will be robustly debated and face political hurdles. At the end of the day, however, we must work deliberately and effectively to maximize voter participation in every election. A functional and vibrant democracy deserves nothing less.

I serve as dean and Robert Kramer Research Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School. Prior to assuming the deanship of GW Law in 2014, I was dean of the Wake Forest University School of Law for seven years. I speak around the globe on current issues in...